Tendulkar Passes Milestone As India On The Brink Of Win

Sachin Tendulkar became the second most prolific batsman in Test cricket as he helped India move to within 32 runs of winning the first Test against Pakistan on day four in Delhi.

Set 203 to win, India closed on 171 for three, with Tendulkar unbeaten on 32 and Sourav Ganguly on 48.

After the third day had left things evenly poised, India took a firm hold on day four, and are well on their way to a convincing win.

As Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh had shared five wickets on that third day to slow down Pakistan's second innings, it was Zaheer Khan and Saurav Ganguly who shared four in the early part of day four.

Kamran Akmal departed without adding to his overnight 21, while Misbah-ul-Haq again impressed in hitting 45 but this time, there was no resistance from the tail; Pakistan were bowled out for 247, leaving India a target of 203 for victory.

Shoaib Akhtar struck quickly, Dinesh Karthik falling to the same method of dismissal, caught by Akmal as he had in the first innings for one before a partnership of 82 between Wasim Jaffer (53) and Rahul Dravid (34) put India in command.

Akhtar took all three wickets to fall, but there was no moving Tendulkar or Ganguly as they added 78 runs for the fourth wicket.

Tendulkar, with a four through the leg-side, became the second-most prolific run scorer in Tests, overtaking Allan Border in the evening session before bad light ended play early.